1860 United States House of Representatives election in Florida explained

Election Name:1860 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
Country:Florida
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:United States House of Representatives election in Florida, 1858
Previous Year:1858
Next Election:United States House of Representatives election in Florida, 1865
Next Year:1865
Election Date:October 1, 1860
Image1:File:No image.svg
Nominee1:Robert Benjamin Hilton
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:7,722
Percentage1:59.89%
Nominee2:Benjamin F. Allen
Party2:Opposition Party (Southern U.S.)
Popular Vote2:5,172
Percentage2:40.11%
Map Size:300px
Representative
Before Election:George Sydney Hawkins
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Robert Benjamin
Hilton
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Image1 Size:x140px
Image2 Size:x140px
Flag Image:Flag_of_the_United_States_(1859–1861).svg

The 1860 United States House of Representatives election in Florida was held on Monday, October 1, 1860 to elect the single United States Representative from the state of Florida, one from the state's single at-large congressional district, to represent Florida in the 37th Congress. The election coincided with the elections of other offices, including the presidential election, gubernatorial election, and various state and local elections.

The winning candidate would serve a two-year term in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1861, to March 4, 1863.[1]

Hilton was never seated in Congress, however, as Florida had seceded from the Union before his term began.

Candidates

Democratic

Nominee

Eliminated at party convention

Opposition

Nominee

Campaign

By 1860, the secession of the South from the Union was nearly inevitable. Both Hilton and Allen were secessionists; the only question that remained was what ideology would an independent Florida prefer: the conservatism of the Democratic Party or the Whiggism of the Opposition Party. Due to Hilton's close ties with Vice President John C. Breckinridge, the Democratic nominee for president, it was all but guaranteed that he would ride on Breckinridge's coattails.

Hilton soundly defeated Allen in the general election, receiving 60% of the vote to Allen's 40%.

General election

Results by County

County[8] Robert Benjamin Hilton
Democratic
Benjamin F. Allen
Opposition
Total votes
%%
align="center" Alachua51674.67%17525.33%691
align="center" Brevard align="center" 0 align="center" 0% align="center" 0 align="center" 0% align="center" 0
align="center" Calhoun8888.0%1212.0%100
align="center" Clay8543.59%11051.73%195
align="center" Columbia23748.27%25451.73%491
align="center" Dade align="center" 0 align="center" 0% align="center" 0 align="center" 0% align="center" 0
align="center" Duval26353.46%22946.54%492
align="center" Escambia17330.73%39069.27%563
align="center" Franklin15585.16%2714.84%182
align="center" Gadsden38748.99%40351.01%790
align="center" Hamilton24758.39%17641.61%423
align="center" Hernando21672.0%8428.0%300
align="center" Hillsborough34790.36%379.64%384
align="center" Holmes7546.88%8553.13%160
align="center" Jackson51151.88%47448.12%985
align="center" Jefferson45074.38%15525.62%605
align="center" Lafayette11055.56%8844.44%198
align="center" Leon42756.26%33243.74%759
align="center" Levy18169.35%8030.65%261
align="center" Liberty9351.38%8848.62%181
align="center" Madison42264.53%23235.47%654
align="center" Manatee7994.05%55.95%84
align="center" Marion43573.36%15826.64%593
align="center" Monroe15678.0%4422.0%200
align="center" Nassau25281.82%5618.18%308
align="center" New River21161.34%13338.66%344
align="center" Orange5836.02%10363.98%161
align="center" Putnam16263.28%9436.72%256
align="center" Santa Rosa25144.27%31655.73%567
align="center" St. Johns20267.79%9632.21%298
align="center" Sumter10859.67%7340.33%181
align="center" Suwannee13549.63%13750.37%272
align="center" Taylor8650.59%8449.41%170
align="center" Volusia4969.01%2230.99%71
align="center" Wakulla17354.75%14345.25%316
align="center" Walton21051.98%19448.02%404
align="center" Washington17267.45%8332.55%255
Totals7,72259.89%5,17240.11%12,894

Aftermath

Florida seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861, meaning Hilton was not able to take his seat in Congress. However, Hilton won election to the Confederate States House of Representatives later in 1861, representing Florida's 2nd congressional district.[9]

See also

References

  1. Web site: Our Campaigns - FL At Large Race - Oct 01, 1860. 2020-11-08. www.ourcampaigns.com.
  2. News: 1860-06-23. Florida's U.S. Representative nomination 1860. 2. The Florida Peninsular. 2020-11-08.
  3. News: 1860-06-30. Democratic nominations for governor and U.S. representative, 1860. 2. The Florida Peninsular. 2020-11-08.
  4. Web site: 2018-03-08. Dilworth-Barnhill House - Monticello, FL. 2020-11-08. Old Georgia Homes. en-US.
  5. Book: The People of Lawmaking in Florida 1822 - 2019. Florida House of Representatives. 2019. Tallahassee. November 7, 2020.
  6. News: May 22, 2009. The Pope Family. 9. The Madison Enterprise-Recorder. Greene Publishing. 38. Madison. November 7, 2020. University of Florida.
  7. Book: Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County 1845-2020. Florida House of Representatives. 2020. Tallahassee. 149. November 7, 2020.
  8. News: Dyke . Carlisle . November 17, 1860 . VOTE FOR CONGESSMAN BY COUNTIES . 3 . Floridian & Journal . September 15, 2022.
  9. McConville. Michael Paul. 2012. The Politics Of Slavery And Secession In Antebellum Florida, 1845-1861. University of Central Florida. 75. November 7, 2020. STARS.